Code of Iowa

UST Administrative Rules

Chapter 134 is divided into Parts A (Certification of Groundwater Professionals), B (Certification of UST compliance Inspectors), and C (Licensing of UST Professionals) to aid the reader in finding these specific sections.

The proposed state regulations represent a significant change to our current UST rules. You can view the revised federal rules along with rule summary, history and other resources on EPA’s website.The DNR began the process of adopting the 2015 federal rules, including working with stakeholders for more than two years to draft language changes. Below are the most recent versions of the proposed rules (September 2018):

Iowa’s existing UST rules are in effect, until the proposed state rule changes are adopted.

The new federal rules do NOT take effect in Iowa in October 2018.

Federal law allows the EPA to approve state programs to operate in place of the federal requirements if those state programs have standards that are no less stringent than the federal requirements and provide adequate enforcement of compliance with those standards. Iowa has delegated authority to oversee UST regulations in Iowa through EPA's State Program Approval (SPA) process. But because EPA adopted new rules for USTs in 2015, Iowa must also adopt equivalent regulations, as well as reapply for SPA in order to maintain oversight authority. States were given three years to complete the reapplication process (due by October 2018). Iowa’s existing UST rules are in effect until the proposed state rule changes are adopted, or if EPA formally withdraws Iowa’s existing SPA.

The DNR has regular contact and provides updates to EPA staff. EPA is aware that each state has different rule-making processes and schedules. EPA does not intend to withdraw a state’s program approval as long as the state is making good faith effort and progress in adopting rules in a reasonable timeframe.

Iowa has not completed the formal rule-making. Key steps remaining in the rule-making process:Governor’s office pre-approval, presentation of Notice of rule for approval before the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC), presentation of Notice of rule before the Administrative Rules Review Committee (ARRC), formal public hearings, presentation of Final rule for approval before EPC, presentation of Final rule before ARRC. The final UST rule will not likely be adopted until spring or summer of 2019.

In the meantime, Iowa's existing UST regulations are what UST owners must comply with until the proposed state rules are adopted. The EPA federal regulations are NOT and WILL NOT be in effect in Iowa in October 2018.